MERRY CHRISTMAS!
By Roslyn Catracchia, Director of Worship and Performing Arts
Merry Christmas everyone!
For many, many, many of us, this is probably not the Christmas we might have expected or hoped for, for any number of reasons. We aren’t WHERE we wanted to be, WHEN we wanted to be there, WHO we wanted to be with, doing WHAT we wanted to be doing, and so on and so on.
I don’t mean the “and so on’s” to sound sarcastic. On the contrary. It’s just that the list could go on endlessly because it’s been such a strange and different year for the majority of the world.
But in the midst of all the “strange and different,” in the midst of so much uncertainty, there is one certainty. As Pastor Dan preached yesterday, Love came down at Christmas for me and for you. For each and every one of us. He came down to show us the Way. Jesus, our Redeemer, the Lover of our Souls, came to show us Love…perfectly.
And while we might not all agree on everything, the one thing I believe we can all agree on is that Love is a very, very good thing. Countless songs have been written about it. “All You Need Is Love” “I Will Always Love You” “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing” “Reckless Love”…This list too goes on and on and on.
The Bible tells us one priceless thing after another about Love. But maybe none so beautifully as in the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, “where Paul preached a message of love even more brilliant than the sun.” (I wish I came up with that phrase!) Madeleine L’Engle wrote that in her book, “Walking on Water—Reflections on Faith and Art.”
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails… For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Corinthians 13
The Good Book also tells us a lot about Love in Proverbs. I’m gonna share a few of those good things from Chapter 3, things that I read and re-read to myself.
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight… Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.” - Scripture from Proverbs 3
So how can we “not withhold good?” I’m gonna write that again. How CAN we NOT withhold good?” I wanna expand that thought…to not withhold good from anyone! After all, God’s grace showers us with good so often even when we don’t deserve it.
So how can we share God’s love today on this Christmas Day, when Love came down and dwelt among us some 2,000 years ago? I think there are countless creative ways!
This is my last devotional for the year, and I was excited to write just a few of my thoughts on Love. It’s my favorite subject. I’ve only preached once in my life, many years ago. I’m definitely better behind the piano! But on the one day I preached, I preached on Love. And I mentioned something then that I want to share with you all today.
When I was a child, my dad didn’t tell my brother and me very often that he loved us. I’m certain now, as an adult, that he did. The first time I remember him actually telling me he loved me was when I was 21 years old, on a phone call. After he hung up, I stared at the phone and started crying and my aunt said, “What’s the matter?!” I said, “My dad said he loved me.” I remember everything about that moment.
Our mother, on the other hand, told me and my brother that she loved us at every opportunity, daily, for years and years and years. I’m forever thankful to her for not holding back when it came to telling us and showing us Love.
“Love God, Love people, and reach the world for Christ.” My mom did that GREAT.
Today, on this Christmas day, I’m asking God how I can share His Love more fully, with the world, in my neighborhood, in my family, in my home. Not in some vague, indistinct, hazy way, but clearly.
The past couple of devotionals I’ve written have included a song as a reflection. Today I share with you another one of my favorites, “Love Came Down At Christmas,” from Our Daily Bread.
Click HERE to hear the song: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=4_OVjatkjOA&list=RD4_OVjatkjOA&start_radio=1
Merry Christmas everyone! And warmest wishes for a wonderful Happy New Year.
DJ Roz, signing out!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray you send Your Holy Spirit to open our eyes, to show us how we can love more fully, more deeply, more like You. In Your precious name, Lord Jesus, Amen.
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